Synchronizer



April 25, 1933. o. A. JONES El" AL SYNCHRONI Z ER Filed July 12, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvENToRs 5}) QA JOHcES BY ATTORNEY WITT ESS an! Law/ 0. A. JONES ET AL April 25, 1933.

SYNCHRONIZER :s Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 12, 1930 JAW3I2 BY 0A /7553 WITNESS/ 7 I ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SYNCERONIZER Application filed July 12,

This invention relates to a device for synchronizing a phonographic record with a moving picture film.

An object of the invention is the provision of a device for advancing or retarding the needle carried by a pick-up arm of a soundreproducing apparatus for the pur ose of synchronizing a record with a film w en the machine is in motion.

A further object of the invention is the rovision of a-device for synchronizing talk- 1ng machines and moving picture machines in which the pick-up arm of the sound-reproducing device is adapted to be advanced or retarded in accordance with the move; ment of the film so that the sound and the movement will be simultaneous or in which the device may be employed for correcting fluctuations between the sound-reproducing 2o device and the moving picture machine.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device for synchronizing a. sound-reproducing device with a motion picture machine in which an indicating needle driven by the reproducing device is adapted to be moved in alignment with a needle controlled by the pick-up arm of the reproducing device, provision being made i or aligning the two indicating needles when said needles have moved at an angle to each other.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a sound-reproducing device in which the usual pick-up arm is mounted on a ring rotatably mounted at the periphery of a fixed support, the ring being retained against movement but releasable topermit shifting of the ring in either direction for advancing or retarding the needle in the groove of a phonograph record to obtain proper synchronism between the sound and the movement of the film of the moving picture machine.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description. in view of the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification; nevertheless it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes 1930. Serial No. 487,580.

and modifications which shall define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation partly, in section of a sound reproducing device constructed in accordance with the principles of our invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 2-.2 of Figure 3,

Figure 3 is a plan view with parts broken away,

Figure 4 is. a section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2, 05

.Figure 5 is a vertical section of a modified form of the invention, and

Figure 6 is a plan view of the form shown in Figure 5.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, 1O designates a base member upon which is mounted a housing 11 provided with gearing for driving a shaft 12.

A shaft 13 drives the gearing in the housing 11 and is connected with a motor (not shown).

A fixed support or table 14 is carried by legs 15 secured to the base member 10.

The shaft 12 extends through hearings in the fixed table 14 upon which it is removably mounted. A turntable 16 is mounted on the outer end of the shaft and rests upon a gear housing 17. A pin 18 forms the terminal of the shaft 12 and is adapted to receive a perforation formed axially of the phonographic record 19 which is mounted on the turntable 16, the said turntable being driven by the shaft 12 in the usual manner. Secured to the table 14 is a ring 20 having a depending -flange 21 circular in formation and snugly engaging the periphery of the fixed table 14. A second ring 22 of less width than the ring 20 is secured by means of bolts 23 to the ring 20. The outer edges of the rings 20 and 22 are spaced apart to provide an annular groove which receives a reduced portion 24 formed at the inner periphery of a ring 25. This construction provides means for supporting the ring 25 while permitting the ring 25 to be revolved 10o around the fixed table 20 and the rings 20 and 22 support the ring 25 on said table.

A portion of the ring is extended, as shown at 26, upon which is mounted a sleeve 27 forming a bearing for a hollow shaft 28 which is secured to or formed integrally with the pick-up arm 29, the pick-up arm carrying a needle 30 which is adapted to engage the usual grooves in the phonographic record 19. An arm 29 is provided with a shoulder 30 which rests upon the upper end of the sleeve whereby the shaft and arm are supported. The lower end of the shaft projects through a top 31 of a housing 30.

The housing is secured to the bottom face of the extension 26 and projects rearwardly from the extension. As shown more particularly in Figure 3 this housing is in the shape of a quadrant and is provided with an opening 32 normally closed by a transparent member 33 in order that the operator may inspect the outer portion of the interior of the housing, for a purpose which will be presently explained.

A needle 35 is secured to that portion of the shaft 28 which is located within the housing 30 and this indicating needle has its outer free end 36 movable beneath the arcuately-shaped window 32.

A second indicating needle 37 has a free end 38 turned upwardly and located within the same plane with the needle 35 and the free ends 36 and 38, respectively, of the needles 35 and 37, are adapted to be normally aligned.

The needle 37 is pivotally mounted at 39 on an axle 40 which has its lower end 41 secured to the bottom of a housing 30 while its upper end has a head 42 resting upon the pick-up arm 29. That portion of the needle which is opposite the free end 38 has an arcuately-shaped rack 43 secured to or formed integrally with the needle and this rack meshes with a gear 44 frictionally engaging a shaft 45 which has one end mounted in a bearing in the housing 30 while the other end is mounted in a bearing in a housing 46.

A shaft 50 has one end mounted in a bearing 51 upon the housing 46 while the other end is carried by a bearing formed in an angle iron 52. This angle iron is rotatably mounted on the shaft 12 and rests upon the fixed table 14 and is adapted to be revolved around the shaft as will be presently explained.

A gear 53 is secured to the inner end of the shaft 50 and meshes with a gear 54 secured to the shaft 12. A second gear 55 is located within the housing 46 and is secured to the outer end of the shaft 50. A train of gearing, generally designated by the numeral 56, operatively connects the gear 55 with a pinion 57 secured to the shaft 45.

The housing 46 is secured to the ring 26 in any ap roved manner and it will be noted that the s aft 45 extends from the housing 46 to the ring 26 and into the housing 30.

The operation of the device shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, is as follows: When the mechanism. is set in motion for driving the shaft 12 and the turntable 16, the phonographic record or disc 16 will be revolved and the needle is applied to the usual starting grooves by moving the arm 29 to the proper position. When the record is operatmg in synchronism with the moving plcture film (not shown) the two arrows or needles 35 and 37 are in alignment. \Vhen for some reason the sound record is not in synchronism with the film, an inspection of the needles 35 and 37 will show that they are out of alignment. It is only necessary to move the arm 29 to such a osition that the two needles will be aligne since the point or needle 30 will be applied to a part of the record.

If, for some reason, the film is left out or is shortened, the ring 25 may be revolved in order to maintain the sgnchronism by revolving the extension 26 w ence the angle of inclination of the arm 29 to a line assing through the center of the disc 19 an the axis of the shaft 28 will be varied and the needle 30 will be advanced or retarded, depending upon the direction of rotation of the ring 25.

The ring 25 is retained against movement by a spring-pressed pin 59 which has its inner end engaging the fixed ring 20. When the pin is moved outwardly it will release the ring 25 to permit the same to be revolved; otherwise, the spring 58 maintains the pin in frictional engagement with the periphery of the ring 20.

The gearing 56 is so constructed that it will cause the needle 37 to be moved in alignment with the needle 35 which is operated by the movement of the arm 29 from the outer periphery of the disc 19 towards the center of said disc.

Referring more particularly to Figures 5 and 6, it will be seen that a modified form of the device is illustrated in which a fixed table 60 is carried by legs 61 which are mounted on a base member (not shown), but which has been described in connection with Figures 1 to 4, inclusive. A shaft 62 is driven in the usual manner, passes through the fixed table 60, and has mounted on its upper end a turntable 63 from which projects a pin 64 to receive the usual axial passage of a phonographic disc 65.

A ring 66 is secured to the fixed table 60 and has a shoulder 67 abutting the periphery of the fixed table 60. The ring 66 is secured by means of bolts 68 to the table 60. A second ring 69 is secured by means of bolts 70 to a ring 66 and the shoulder 67 spaces the rings 66 and 69 apart in order to provide a groove 71 to receive a reduced portion in the form of a rib 72 which is located at the inner periphery of a ring 73. This construction permits the ring 73 to be revolved around the table 60.

At one portion of the ring 73 there is provided an extension 75 in which is mounted a pin 76 having its free end friotionally engaging the outer periphery of the ring 66. The pin extends entirely through the extension 75 and is provided'with a fingerpiece 77 for reciprocating the pin and removing the free end out of contact with the periphery of the ring 66. A collar 78 is secured to the pin and is located within an enlarged passage 79 in the extension. A sprin 80 engages the collar 78 in a plug 81 t? rea ed into the outer end of the passage The post 85 extends upwardly from the extension 75 and has pivotally mounted thereon, at 86, a pick-up arm 87. A needle is carried b the member 88 and is adapted to engage tii e usual grooves of the phonographic record 65.

The operation of the device is as follows: The shaft 62 is revolved in the usual manner for revolving the turntable 63 and the disc 65. The needle 90 is applied to the initial grooves of the record and the ring 75 is held against rotation by the pin 76. When it is found that there is not proper co-ordination or synchronism between the film and the record, the pin 76 is released and the ring 75 is revolved whereby the needle is advanced or retarded within the groove until the record is synchronized with the film. It may be necessary at times to raise the member 88 in order to properly align the needle. When the roper synchronism has been made the pin 6 is released whence it will frictionall engage the periphery of the ring 66 an retain the ring 75 against movement.

The gear 44 is frictionally secured to the shaft 45 and maybe revolved independently of said shaft at times. However, the gear is sufliciently fast to the shaft whereby it will be normally revolved by said shaft to operate the needle 37.

A pin 100 secured to the needle 37 projects through an arcuately formed slot in the bottom of the casing 30 so that said pin may be rasped by the hand for moving the needle 3 to an aligning position with the needle 35 when desired. When the needle 37 is moved, the gear 44 will be revolved on the shaft 45 without causing rotation of said shaft since the gear is sufiiciently loose on the shaft to be independently revolved thereon. In this manner, after the pick-up arm has been initially set, the needle or hand 37 is turned back and aligned with the needle 35.

We claim:

1. An adjusting device for re roducing instruments comprising a fixed ta 1e, means carried by the table and having a groove at the periphery thereof, a ring mounted for revolution on the fixed table, a turntable, means for rotating the turntable, a phonograph pick-up arm mounted on the ring, the ring being adapted to be revolved for advanclngor retarding the usual needle of the pick-up arm in a groove of a record carried by the turntable, the ring having an annular flange at the internal periphery thereof received Within the groove. 2. An adjusting device for re roducing lnstruments comprising a fixed ta le, a ring mounted for revolution on the periphery of the fixed table, a turntable, means for rotatlng the turntable, a phonograph pickup arm mounted on the ring, the ring being adapted to be revolved for advancing or retarding the usual needle of the pick-up arm 1n a groove of a record carried by the turntable, means for supporting the ring at the periphery of the fixed table, and means for releasably holding the ring against rotation relative to the fixed table.

3. A synchronizing device for sound recording and reproducing instruments comprising a fixed support, a ring mounted for rotation on the support, a shaft for revolving a phonographic record, means for revolving the shaft, a ick-u arm mounted on the ring and provi ed wlth a stylus engaging a groove of the record, an indicatin needle connected to the arm and move through a definite are by the arm by reason of the stylus moving across the record in the groove of said record, a complementary indicating needle, means operativel connecting the complementary needle with the shaft for causing the second indicating needle to move in synchronism with the first indicating needle.

4. A synchronizing device for sound recording and reproducing instruments comprising a fixed support, a ring mounted for rotation on the support, a shaft for revolving a phonographic record, means for revolving the shaft, a pick-up arm mounted on the ring and provided with a stylus engaging a groove of the record, an indicating needle connected to the arm and moved through a definite are by the arm by reason of the stylus moving across the record in the groove of said record, a complementary indicating needle, means operatively connecting the complementary needle with the shaft for causing the second indicating needle to move in synchronism with the first indicating needle, and means for retaining the ring normally against rotation.

5. A synchronizing device for sound recording and reproducing instruments comprising a fixed support, a ring mounted for rotation on the fixed support, a pick-up arm carried by the ring, a shaft for revolving the usual phonograph record, an indicating means-connected to and movable by the pick-up arm by reason of the usual stylus moving across the record in the groove of said record,a second indicating means, means operatively connecting the shaft with the second indicating means for causing the second indicating means to be moved in synchronism with the first-mentioned indicating means.

6. A synchronizing device for sound recording and reproducing instruments comprising a fixed support, a ring mounted for rotation on the fixed support, a pick-up arm carried by the ring, a shaft for revolving the usual phonograph record, an indicating means connected to and movable by the pickup arm by reason of the usual stylus moving across the record in the groove of said record, a second indicating means, means operatively connecting the shaft with the second indicating means for causing the second indicating means to be moved in s nchronism with the first-mentioned indicating means, a casing housing the indicating means and secured to the ring so that when the ring is revolved the indicating means will be carried through an arc.

7. A synchronizing device for sound recording and reproducing instruments comprising a fixed su port, a ring mounted for rotation on the xed support, a shaftfor revolving the usual phonograph record, a pick-up arm carried by the ring, an indicating means connected to and movable by the pick-up arm by reason of the usual stylus moving across the record in the groove of said record, a second indicatin means, means operatively connecting the s aft with the second indicating means for causing the second indicating means to be moved in synchronism with the first mentioned indicating means, the arm being pivotally mounted and adapted to be moved manually through an arc about the pivotal mounting as a center for causing the indicating means to be alined.

8. A synchronizing device for sound recording and reproducing instruments comprising a fixed support, a ring mounted for rotation on the support, a rock shaft on the ring, a pick-up arm connected with the shaft and provided with a stylus adapted to engage the usual groove in a record, an indicating needle connected with the shaft and movable through a predetermined are by the shaft and arm by reason of a stylus moving across the record in the groove of said record, an axle in line with the longitudinal axis of the shaft, a second indicating needle pivoted on the axle, rotating means for the record, means operatively connecting the rotating means with the second indicating needle for causing the second needle to be moved normally in alinement with the first indicating needle.

9. A synchronizing device for sound recording and reproducing instruments comprising a fixed support, a rin mounted for rotation on the support, a roc shaft on the ring, a pick-up arm connected with the shaft and provided with a stylus adapted to engage the usual groove in a record, an indicating needle connected with the shaft and movable through a predetermined are by the shaft and arm by reason of the stylus moving across the record in the groove of said record, an axle in line with the longitudinal axis of the shaft, a second indicating needle pivoted on the axle, rotating means for the record, means operatively connecting the rotating means with the second indicating needle for causing the second needle to be moved normally in alinement with the first indicating needle, means for retaining the ring a ainst rotation, the lastmentioned means adapted to be released to permit rotation of the rin for causing the indicating needles to be alined when one of the needles has been advanced or retarded relative to the other needle.

JAMES A. STRUTHERS. OLIVER A. JONES. 

